MILLICHEN AREA - GLASGOWLocation
The Millichen area is situated in the north of Glasgow, just east of Bearsden. It is bounded by Boclair Road, to the north, Balmore Road, to the east, the River Kelvin, to the south, and the Glasgow City/East Dunbartonshire Council boundary, to the west.
Description
The land, all privately owned, is primarily agricultural land - improved grassland and arable - with areas to the south of Millichen Road being susceptible to flooding (part of the River Kelvin floodplain). These areas also include fields of rushy pasture. Some of the fields are bounded by hedgerows most of which are subject to severe pruning on an annual basis.
Two small partially canalised streams flow south into the River Kelvin whilst land within the floodplain has been subjected to major drainage works in recent years.
There are a number of cottages, steadings and farm buildings located alongside Millichen Road, which bisects the area. The privacy of the occupants should be respected at all times.
Conservation Measures
The RSPB Glasgow Local Group has undertaken a winter farmland bird feeding project since December 2001. This was initially established with a view to trying to safeguard, in the short term, nationally declining farmland birds such as Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow. The area was particularly important as it supported the one remaining Tree Sparrow population in the city, which had apparently dwindled to 2-3 breeding pairs.
In undertaking the project the Local Group has:
- Recruited a dedicated band of volunteers.
- Prepared annual Monitoring reports which have been submitted to the RSPB Scotland office, in Glasgow.
These have shown that the Tree Sparrow and other birds of conservation concern continue to utilise the Millichen area.
- Raised the profile of the plight of the Tree Sparrow and liaised with other organisations resulting in the planting of trees within hedgerows and the erection of 100+ nest boxes.
All of this work has helped support Glasgow's Local Biodiversity Action Plan and in particular the Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow species plans.
Results from a breeding bird survey undertaken in 2006 found that the Group's work appeared to have had a positive impact with there now being:
13 pairs of Tree Sparrow,
6 pairs of Reed Bunting; and
15-16 pairs of Yellowhammer.
For more information see links page and 'Birds of Greater Glasgow'
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